5
Program Semesters - Full Time
8
Semesters - Part-Time (Online Only)
65
Total Credits
400+
Supervised Clinical Clock Hours
Master in Speech Language Pathology (MSLP)
Faulkner University is excited to announce the Master of Science and Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology on-ground at Faulkner, along with an online Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology, which began in the Fall of 2022, and is fully accredited. These programs are designed for students seeking national certification with the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and state licensure to practice as a speech language pathologist.
Faulkner University is a Christian university. As such, we approach speech language pathology from a Biblical perspective and Christian worldview. The on-ground and online MA program, as well as the on-ground MS SLP program, are founded on the belief that there is no limit to what God can accomplish when men and women listen to His calling and allow Him to work through them. Scripture tells us, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10). Our goal is to train young men and women as SLPs who are competent in their practice and clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, and then send these graduates into a broken and hurting world to serve the sick and disabled. We welcome students of all faiths and backgrounds who desire to become competent and compassionate speech language pathologists with a humanitarian heart for serving others.
Admission Requriements, Program Structure, Leveling Courses & Specialized Training
Admission Requirements
- CSDCAS Application
- Faulkner Graduate Application
- Letter of Introduction - submitted through CSDCAS
- Official academic transcripts from all previously attended institutions
- Academic transcript indicating an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution - submitted through CSDCAS
- Evidence of successful completion of academic coursework in
- normal language development
- phonetics
- anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing
- speech science
- phonological and articulation disorders
- language disorders
- audiology
- statistics
- biological science
- physical science (physics or chemistry)
- social/behavioral science
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Competitive GRE score - submitted through CSDCAS
- Three letters of recommendation (at least 2 must be from faculty in the CSD/SLP major) - submitted through CSDCAS
- Signed Essential Functions document submitted through CSDCAS
- Application fee of $75
- Submit a 2-5 minute video of the student answering the following questions:
- Why does the student want to be an SLP?
- Why does the student want to attend Faulkner University for his/her graduate training and what makes the student a “good fit” for the Faulkner SLP grad program?
- What challenges does the student anticipate coming into graduate school, both academically and clinically and what measures will he/she take to overcome them?
- Explain a situation wherein the student encountered conflict, and what measures the student took to remediate that situation.
International Students
In addition to the above admission requirements, the MA/MS SLP program requires the following items from international students:
- TOEFL 100 iBT score or IELTS 7.5 overall score for applicants whose native language is not English
- Affidavit of Support for each individual source of funding
- Bank Statements that support each source of funding
- Copy of Valid Passport
For additional information, contact CHSAdmissions@faulkner.edu
Leveling courses required for students with a major other than CSD or SLP
- normal language development
- phonetics
- anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing
- speech science
- phonological and articulation disorders
- language disorders
- audiology
- statistics
- a biological science
- a physical science (physics or chemistry)
- a social/behavioral science
Faulkner will begin offering leveling courses in Fall 2023. Each course is offered in an 8 week fully online format, but it is only offered once per year.
Essential Functions Document
All applicants are required to sign and submit the Essential Functions document as a part of the application packet. Access the Essential Functions document here.
Steps to Apply
- Complete Faulkner online application
- Complete CSDCAS application
- Pay the application fee (debit or credit card) when you submit your application online
- Send official copies of transcripts from each university attended to CSDCAS
- Submit your personal Letter of Introduction and Essential Functions through CSDCAS
- The 3 Letters of Recommendation must be submitted directly to CSDCAS.
- Submit your personal video, which was recorded on YouTube, through CSDCAS.
For more information, please contact:
Graduate Enrollment
Faulkner University
Graduate Admissions
5345 Atlanta Highway
Montgomery, AL 36109-3398
334-386-7343
CHSAdmissions@faulkner.edu
Financial Aid
Faulkner’s Financial Aid Office is happy to assist you with financing your education.
Seat Deposit
Upon admission to the on-ground/online Master's SLP program, students will be required to pay a $500 deposit to secure their seat in the cohort for that year. This deposit is non-refundable.
Academic Program for Online and On-ground Master of Speech Language Pathology
Both the on-ground and online graduate programs in speech language pathology (SLP) are designed to be completed in 5 semesters, with the exception of the online program, which has a part-time option that is 8 semesters in length. Students enter each August as a cohort, and progress through the program together.
On-ground students have the option to choose the MA track or MS track. The academic coursework and clinical experiences are identical for both tracks. The only difference between the two tracks is the type of project the student completes in SLP 6381 Research Experiences. Also, the Comprehensive Exam requirement is waived for students on the MS track in terms of degree requirements. However, students are required to sit for the exam in order to prepare for the Praxis.
Online students only have the option to complete the MA track. The academic coursework and clinical experiences are identical to what is offered on-ground, but each experience is adapted to the distance learning format. Students must report for a required 1 week on-ground intensive the Summer between their first and second year, during which their Comprehensive Exam will be administered in person and clinical skills will be assessed in the Simulation Lab. For part-time students, the required 1 week on-ground intensive is held during the second summer semester and will be identical in structure to the fulltime student experience.
MA Track
The Master of Arts track is for students who are interested in learning how to apply research literature in clinical settings, but not necessarily interested in conducting their own personal research. Students on the MA track will complete an Evidence Based Practice Portfolio during SLP 6381 Research Experiences. Students are also required to pass the Comprehensive Exam to graduate.
MS Track
The Master of Science track is for students who want experience in conducting research. Students on the MS track will complete a thesis, which involves developing their own research study under the guidance of a thesis committee. Upon completion of the thesis, students will submit for publication in a journal or submit for presentation at ASHA and/or SHAA. Due to the complex nature and extra time commitment for completing a thesis, the Comprehensive Exam requirement is waived as a degree requirement for students on the MS track; however, students are required to sit for the comprehensive exam as preparation for the Praxis.
Graduation Requirements
MA/MS SLP Graduation Requirements
- Complete all required courses with a grade of “B-” (80%) or higher.*
- Minimum GPA for graduation is 3.0 or higher
- Minimum of 375 clinical clock hours (plus 25 observation hours)
- Passing grade on Thesis (MS track) or EBP Project (MA track)
- Passing score on Comprehensive Exam (MA track only)
- Passing grade on SLO 5 Portfolio
- Meet ASHA’s Standards I-V for CCC-SLP per the Standards for CCC-SLP Tracking Form
On-Ground Program Structure
On-Ground Program Structure
The MA/MS SLP program is five (5) semesters of academic coursework, clinical practice and internships. In the first three semesters of the program (Fall 1, Spring 1, Summer 1), the student takes four academic courses per semester and completes a clinical practicum in the Clinical Center on Faulkner’s campus. Students may also elect to complete a medical mission in the summer for addition experience. The Comprehensive Exam is also administered at the end of the summer semester. In the final two semesters of the program (Fall 2 and Spring 2), the student completes two internships (one with pediatrics and the other with adults) at a hospital, medical center, clinic, nursing home or school anywhere in the country. The student also completes their portfolio (MA track) or thesis (MS track).
Course Sequence
| Course # | Course Name | Credit Hour |
| Year 1: Fall Semester | ||
| SLP 6320 | Advanced Speech Sound Disorders | 3 |
| SLP 6351 | Neurogenic Disorders 1 | 3 |
| SLP 6360 | Dysphagia – Adult | 3 |
| SLP 6365 | Dysphagia – Pediatric | 3 |
| SLP 6391 | Clinical Methods and Practicum 1 | 3 |
| Year 1: Spring Semester | ||
| SLP 6310 | Advanced Language Disorders in Children | 3 |
| SLP 6330 | Voice and Resonance Disorders | 3 |
| SLP 6340 | Fluency Disorders | 3 |
| SLP 6352 | Neurogenic Disorders 2 | 3 |
| SLP 6392 | Clinical Methods and Practicum 2 | 3 |
| Year 1: Summer Semester | ||
| SLP 6205 | Augmentative and Alternative Communication | 2 |
| SLP 6215 | Autism and Social Communication | 2 |
| SLP 6270 | Aural Habilitation and Rehabilitation | 2 |
| SLP 6280 | Research Methods | 2 |
| SLP 6393 | Clinical Methods and Practicum 3 | 3 |
| Year 2: Fall Semester | ||
| SLP 6991 | Internship (off-campus) | 9 |
| SLP 6381 | Research Experiences (off-campus) | 3 |
| Year 2: Spring Semester | ||
| SLP 6992 | Internship (off-campus) | 9 |
| SLP 6382 | Research Experiences (off-campus) | 3 |
| Total Credits | 65 |
All students (MA track and MS track) must take all courses in the following sequence.
Faulkner University provides a variety of clinical experiences to help students become highly-skilled and well-rounded clinicians.
On-Ground Clinical Experience
Semesters 1, 2, & 3
During the first three semesters in the program, students will complete a clinical practicum on campus in Faulkner’s brand new, state-of-the-art Clinical Center. Here, students receive one-on-one clinical supervision, training, and mentoring from our experienced clinical faculty members. Students have the opportunity to evaluate and treat a wide variety of patients, from babies to the elderly, with a range of communication and swallowing disorders and diagnoses, such as FOXG1, HIE, cleft palate, autism, TBI, stroke, Noonan’s syndrome, long COVID, head and neck cancer, vocal nodules, Down syndrome, apraxia, along with others.
Semesters 4 and 5
During the final two semesters in the program, students will complete 2 internships- one in an adult setting and one in a pediatric setting. Students are given the opportunity to request internship sites that match their personal career goals. For example, a student who wishes to work on a craniofacial team can request an internship in a children’s hospital, or a student who wishes to work with adults in post-acute rehabilitation can request an internship in a rehabilitation hospital. Since students do not have to take any academic courses on campus during these semesters, they are free to pursue internships anywhere in the country. These personalized internships are a key feature of our MS/MA SLP program because they allow students to build professional networks and gain the specialized experience needed to shape their career path.
Online Program Structure
The online MA SLP program is structured much like the on-ground program offering the same curriculum in the same sequence, but can be completed from anywhere in the country. It also offers the option to be taken on a part-time basis, which will require 8 semesters to complete. Classes will be both asynchronous (recorded) and synchronous (live) throughout the didactic portion of the program. Live classes are offered on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 4 pm CST to 7 pm CST, and exams, when administered, are given on Friday from 4-7 pm CST. Students may on occasion be required to attend earlier on Friday for Grand Rounds, which occurs approximately twice a semester.
Full-time Option
Each semester consists of 4 academic classes and weekly, 2 classes will be synchronous and 2 classes will be asynchronous each week, allowing each course to cover both live and recorded learning modalities, along with a clinical supervisory meeting on Monday evenings. An orientation similar to the on-ground students will be offered virtually prior to starting the program, and students will be required to attend a 1 week on-ground intensive session the Summer between their first and second year, during which their Comprehensive Exam will be administered in person, along with any labs or activities which were not able to be performed online (standardized test administration). Clinically, online students will participate in clinical education all 5 semesters. Their first semester (Fall 1) will consist of 30-40 hours of Simucase under the direct supervision of Faulkner faculty. The second and third semesters (Spring 1 and Summer 1), students will be placed in external sites where they must complete approximately 4 hours of clinic each week. The final 2 semesters (Fall 2 and Spring 2) will consist of 2 full-time internships, one with adults and one with pediatrics. The student will also complete their portfolio (MA track) during this time. The course sequence is illustrated below.
Course Sequence
| Course # | Course Name | Credit Hour |
| Year 1: Fall Semester | ||
| SLP 6320 | Advanced Speech Sound Disorders | 3 |
| SLP 6351 | Neurogenic Disorders 1 | 3 |
| SLP 6360 | Dysphagia – Adult | 3 |
| SLP 6365 | Dysphagia – Pediatric | 3 |
| SLP 6391 | Clinical Methods and Practicum 1 | 3 |
| Year 1: Spring Semester | ||
| SLP 6310 | Advanced Language Disorders in Children | 3 |
| SLP 6330 | Voice and Resonance Disorders | 3 |
| SLP 6340 | Fluency Disorders | 3 |
| SLP 6352 | Neurogenic Disorders 2 | 3 |
| SLP 6392 | Clinical Methods and Practicum 2 | 3 |
| Year 1: Summer Semester | ||
| SLP 6205 | Augmentative and Alternative Communication | 2 |
| SLP 6215 | Autism and Social Communication | 2 |
| SLP 6270 | Aural Habilitation and Rehabilitation | 2 |
| SLP 6280 | Research Methods | 2 |
| SLP 6393 | Clinical Methods and Practicum 3 | 3 |
| Year 2: Fall Semester | ||
| SLP 6991 | Internship (off-campus) | 9 |
| SLP 6381 | Research Experiences (off-campus) | 3 |
| Year 2: Spring Semester | ||
| SLP 6992 | Internship (off-campus) | 9 |
| SLP 6382 | Research Experiences (off-campus) | 3 |
| Total Credits | 65 |
Faulkner University provides a variety of clinical experiences to help students become highly-skilled and well-rounded clinicians.
Online Clinical Experience
Semester 1
Students will gain clinical experience through the completion of 30-40 Simucase hours under the direct supervision of Faulkner faculty. Students will be assigned a variety of clinic populations across the lifespan, including culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Every week, students will have a supervisory conference with their clinical supervisor to debrief, review, and discuss the assigned Simucases. Students will also gain experience in clinic writing by completing assessment reports, plans of care, and SOAP notes for every Simucase assigned.
Semesters 2 and 3
Students during semesters 2 and 3 will be placed in external sites such as schools, medical centers, nursing homes, private clinics, etc. Each student will be responsible for helping the Assistant Clinic Director identify potential sites in their geographic area. External sites should be selected with consideration of availability of culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Students are required to complete about 4 clinical clock hours each week, as this is the amount of time on-ground students spend in the Clinical Center during these two courses. Every week, students will have a supervisory conference with their clinical supervisor to debrief, review, and discuss their progress.
Semesters 4 and 5
Students will complete two internships, one with adults and one with pediatrics. Each student will be responsible for identifying potential sites in their geographic area. Students must submit 5 potential adult sites and 5 potential pediatric sites to the Assistant Clinical Director by the middle of September during their first year. This is to ensure the Assistant Clinical Director has ample time to reach out and initiate contracts with each site prior to the following Fall when full-time internships begin. Students are directly supervised by their on-site supervisor during both of these semesters, with additional check-ins with the Assistant Clinical Director.
Part-time Option
Each semester consists of differing numbers of academic and clinical coursework depending where in the program the student currently stands. In the first year, students will complete 2 academic classes weekly on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 4 pm CST to 7 pm CST, which will be synchronous and asynchronous, allowing each course to cover both live and recorded learning modalities. In the second year, students will also complete 2 academic classes weekly, along with a clinical course. These academic courses in the second year will also be offered both synchronously and asynchronously (alternating week to week) from 4 pm CST to 7 pm CST, along with a supervisory meeting on Monday evenings at the same time. In the third year, students will complete internships. An orientation similar to the on-ground students will be offered virtually prior to starting the program, and students will be required to attend a 1 week on-ground intensive session the Summer between their second and third year during which their Comprehensive Exam will be administered in person, along with any labs or activities which were not able to be performed online (standardized test administration). Clinically, online students will participate in clinical education beginning in the second year until the point of graduation. Their first semester (Fall 2) will consist of 30-40 hours of Simucase under the direct supervision of Faulkner faculty. The second and third semesters (Spring 2 and Summer 2), students will be placed in external sites where they must complete approximately 4 hours of clinic each week. The final 2 semesters (Fall 3 and Spring 3) will consist of 2 full-time internships, one with adults and one with pediatrics. The student will also complete their portfolio (MA track) during this time. It is important to note that students will not be allowed to switch to an alternative track (i.e., a full-time student cannot switch to part-time). The course sequence is illustrated below.
| Course # | Course Name | Credit Hour |
| Year 1: Fall Semester | ||
| SLP 6320 | Advanced Speech Sound Disorders | 3 |
| SLP 6351 | Neurogenic Disorders 1 | 3 |
| Year 1: Spring Semester | ||
| SLP 6310 | Advanced Language Disorders in Children | 3 |
| SLP 6352 | Neurogenic Disorders 2 | 3 |
| Year 1: Summer Semester | ||
| SLP 6270 | Aural Habilitation and Rehabilitation | 2 |
| SLP 6280 | Research Methods | 2 |
| Year 2: Fall Semester | ||
| SLP 6360 | Dysphagia – Adult | 3 |
| SLP 6365 | Dysphagia – Pediatric | 3 |
| SLP 6391 | Clinical Methods and Practicum 1 | 3 |
| Year 2: Spring Semester | ||
| SLP 6330 | Voice and Resonance Disorders | 3 |
| SLP 6340 | Fluency Disorders | 3 |
| SLP 6392 | Clinical Methods and Practicum 2 | 3 |
| Year 2: Summer Semester | ||
| SLP 6205 | Augmentative and Alternative Communication | 2 |
| SLP 6215 | Autism and Social Communication | 2 |
| SLP 6393 | Clinical Methods and Practicum 3 | 3 |
| Year 3: Fall Semester | ||
| SLP 6991 | Internship (off-campus) | 9 |
| SLP 6381 | Research Experiences (off-campus) | 3 |
| Year 3: Spring Semester | ||
| SLP 6992 | Internship (off-campus) | 9 |
| SLP 6382 | Research Experiences (off-campus) | 3 |
| Total Credits | 65 |
Online Clinical Experience
Semester 4
Students will gain clinical experience through the completion of 30-40 Simucase hours under the direct supervision of Faulkner faculty. Students will be assigned a variety of clinic populations across the lifespan, including culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Every week, students will have a supervisory conference with their clinical supervisor to debrief, review, and discuss the assigned Simucases. Students will also gain experience in clinic writing by completing assessment reports, plans of care, and SOAP notes for every Simucase assigned.
Semesters 5 and 6
Students during semesters 5 and 6 will be placed in external sites such as schools, medical centers, nursing homes, private clinics, etc. Each student will be responsible for helping the Assistant Clinic Director identify potential sites in their geographic area. External sites should be selected with consideration of availability of culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Students are required to complete about 4 clinical clock hours each week, as this is the amount of time on-ground students spend in the Clinical Center during these two courses. Every week, students will have a supervisory conference with their clinical supervisor to debrief, review, and discuss their progress.
Semesters 7 and 8
Students will complete two internships, one with adults and one with pediatrics. Each student will be responsible for identifying potential sites in their geographic area. Students must submit 5 potential adult sites and 5 potential pediatric sites to the Assistant Clinical Director by the middle of September during their first year. This is to ensure the Assistant Clinical Director has ample time to reach out and initiate contracts with each site prior to the following Fall when full-time internships begin. Students are directly supervised by their on-site supervisor during both of these semesters, with additional check-ins with the Assistant Clinical Director.
Online Leveling Courses
Now Offering: Online Leveling Courses
Beginning Fall 2023, seven courses in SLP will be offered for those students who would like to pursue a MA/MS SLP degree. Course offerings are completely online and asynchronous. The courses will include:
- SLP 2310 Language Development
- SLP 3310 Phonetics
- SLP 3320/3120 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing (with lab)
- SLP 3370 Introduction to Audiology
- SLP 4310 Language Disorders Across the Lifespan
- SLP 4320 Speech Sound Development and Disorders
- SLP 4340 Speech and Hearing Science
Students may also elect to take their biological science, physics or chemistry, and social/behavioral science online as well. Courses will only be offered in the same semester as the on-ground cohort in a locked step fashion, which begins each Fall semester and continues through the Spring semester. These courses are offered in an 8-week format and will follow the following schedule:
Course Sequence
| Fall 2023 | ||
| Module | Courses Taught | Term Dates |
| Module 1 | SLP 3310 Phonetics | 8/21/23-10/15/23 |
| SLP 4340 Speech and Hearing Science | ||
| Module 2 | SLP 2310 Language Development | 10/16/23-12/10/23 |
| SLP 3320/3120 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing |
||
| Spring 2024 | ||
| Module 1 | SLP 3370 Introduction to Audiology | 1/8/24-3/3/24 |
| SLP 4320 Speech Sound Disorders | ||
| Module 2 | SLP 4310 Language Disorders | 3/14/24-4/28/24 |
Important Information:
- Each 8-week Module starts on Monday and ends on Sunday. Online courses end on Sunday.
- Students may drop a class with 100% tuition refund through the Sunday following the start of the term.
- Students may drop a class with 50% tuition refund through the second Sunday following the start of the term.
- Tuesday of the 5th week in each term is the last day to drop a class with a grade of “W”.
- Final exams will be held during the last scheduled class in each Module. This date varies for different courses.
- Thanksgiving Break – All offices will be closed November 20–24.
- Christmas Break – No classes will be held December 11, 2022 through January 7, 2023.
- University offices closed December 21 – January 3.
SLP – Specialized Training
Specialized Training
Beginning Summer 2023, Faulkner’s Master of SLP program will offer two specialized training sessions, which are available to students for a fee. These trainings include Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing and Lee Silverman Voice Treatment – LOUD. These trainings are optional.
Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) is a procedure whereby the SLP passes a scope through the nasopharynx, which allows for visualization of the vocal folds. The SLP then administers various food and liquid consistencies to the patient and watches the patient swallow them. Based on these trials, the SLP can then determine if the patient is aspirating or is at risk of aspiration, along with the reason for why this is happening and whether this can be remediated behaviorally. It is important to note that students must be physically present for the training. The cost for the training is approximately $350. Students will receive a certificate after successful completion.
Lee Silverman Voice Treatment – LOUD (LSVT LOUD) is a program designed for individuals with Parkinson’s disease to increase vocal loudness, which could subsequently improve speech intelligibility. This training will be offered after the summer semester and will be offered online. Students have 60 days to complete the training. The cost is $295. Students will be certified upon successful completion.
Mission and Vision Statement
Department Mission
The mission of Faulkner University’s Department of Speech Language Pathology is to prepare students, through excellence in instruction, research, and clinical practice, to be leading speech-language pathologists who glorify God by serving others.
Department Vision
The Faulkner University Department of Speech Language Pathology will earn the reputation of a leading contributor to the field of speech language pathology by graduating outstanding speech-language pathologists, developing distinguished faculty members, generating relevant research, and serving the local community with excellent therapy services.
MA/MS Student Learning Outcomes for On-ground and Online Programs
1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of typical and disordered human
communication and swallowing processes.
2. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills regarding the prevention,
assessment, and treatment of people with communication and swallowing
disorders.
3. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills in research methods,
statics, and the integration of research principles into evidence-based
practice.
4. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills in professional ethical
conduct, contemporary issues, regulations/policies, and collaboration.
5. Students will use their knowledge and skills to reach out to the local and
global community to be the hands and feet of Christ.
Strategic Plan Focus Area
- Student Success: graduate students successfully complete their program on time, pass the Praxis exam, and gain employment or pursue post-graduate education.
- Professional Development: faculty members regularly attend workshops, conferences, and ASHA Convention to improve their scholarly and teaching skills.
- Research: faculty members regularly engage in scholarly activities by conducting research studies, speaking at conferences, writing/editing textbooks, serving as peer reviewers for scholarly journals, etc.
- Clinical Service: SLP students and faculty members provide quality therapy services to Clinical Center patients and through volunteer efforts to the community.
To request a copy of the MS SLP Program Strategic Plan, email aogburn@faulkner.edu.
Accreditation
The Master of Arts (MA) education program in speech-language pathology, distance education, at Faulkner University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.